The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-05-11

J ing: the epistles coula afake care OF them
selves; they could not Gail 10 prove de-
liglltful reading.
Here W. are at the core Of the matter
it is not merely this or that code Of man
ner, always falling short somewhere, that
should be committed 10 memory; il
is not the etiquette of this or that foreign
court that should be aped. nor the cere-
monial Of such and such celebrated sa-
Ions initiated this polish from without
is but frail and apt 10 crack in undesira-
BILE places; it is at best but veneering.
What is needed is inner polish, and the
manners will take care of themselves
If a young man or woman Is taught at
home by precept and by example in all
the relations Of family life, TO be gentle,
polite, unsellish; TO minister to the pleas
ure Of Others, TO delight in promoting by
small sacrifices on trifing attentions, the
happy tone OF the home-circle, II, IN
short. the true characteristic of a gentle
man or lady are nurtured in mind and
heart. there will be little danger of un-
pardonable blunders being committed in
any situation whatever; slight mistakes
may indeed occur in small matters of
purely arbitrary or local character, but in
that event no annoyance or trepidation
will be felt. for every well bred person
knows that no such trifies can compro-
mise an otherwise good standing in the
regard of other well-bred people. Indeed
nothing denotes yulgarity more decided
ly than the noticing of small mistakes of
this kind nothing testifies to a worse
narrowness Of min4 than the making
much of them. What politeness could
ever equal the courteous act Of that cele-
brated host, at whose table some guest,
unused to city eleganees, drank out Of his
finger bowl, and who efficiently silenced
the litter around the table by drinking
out of his own finger-bowl. That was po-
liteness and kindness too.
The legitimate desire of doing "the
right thing" in this domain of social in
tercourse, is strongly manifested in the
constant and eager inquiries addressed to
the New York World and other papers,
inquiries received and answered with the
utmost patience and courtesy. yet chiefly
bearing on minute details, which even if
mastered singly, do not by themselves,
constitute good breeding. TO know when
il Is suitable to wear lavender gloves, or
satin slippers viii not make a polish
ed person if the young mans hair smell
of pomatum, and the girl speaks of her
" gentleman friends" The treaties is not
written that would cover the whole
ground hence the only unfliling remedy
is this Cultivate your mind, your sense
of lropriety, your native kindness and
good WILL do not think much of your
self great deal Of Others, act according
" with becoming modesty, with cheerful
ness and good humor. glad TO render any
slight assistance. to perform kind office,
without ever intruding yourself on the
notice of other people. Either you are
moving in the same circle where you
have grown, and your associates are on
the same plane as yourself; in which
case, natural. quiet, amiable manners VIII
easily make YOU an acceptable member,
or else, as is often the case, in this fast
developing country you are rising on the
social ladder and gradually admitted to
more refined circles than We're heretofore
familiar To YOU; be at first more reserved;
more prudent than usual. observe. no.
tice whether in the department Of the
company, you detect any shades of man
ner and action that are novel to you:
avoid making yourself in any way CON
spicuous, but do not hesitate to perform
any little kind thing if you see the OPP
portunity; converse in low, natural
voice, and avoid talking much Of your
self; observe a polite Difference 10 the
views and opinions of yonr interlocutors
especially if older than yourself, and you
will be more sure Of producinga favorable
impression than if you learned by rote
every printed code of manners.
True politeness comes from the heart
not the politeness that smiles and back
bites, that compliments a friend upon
her looks, and tears her to pieces in fit
Of jealous insinuation but the politeness
that delights in comforting pleasure, or
saving from pain, that rejoices in the sue
cess of Others, and is willing occasionally
TO retire into the background for better
display of some one elses good points; the
politeness which i the true mark Of a
born lady or gentleman, the charm and
sweetness OF life whether at the fireside
of a quiet home or in the world abroad
Madame Roch. in Pittsboygh Chronicle
Telegraph.